Rabbiteye blueberry plant named ‘T-959’

ABSTRACT

The variety ‘T-959’ ripens around the first week of June in southern Georgia. The fruits of the new ‘T-959’ variety are very large, firm, and have good flavor. The new ‘T-959’ variety is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 hours at or below approximately 7° C. The new variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made, in part, with U.S. Government support on behalfof U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hatch Act Grant No. GEO 01663. TheU.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘T-959’ is aVaccinium ashei rabbiteye blueberry plant.

Variety denomination: The new rabbiteye blueberry plant claimed is a newvariety denominated ‘T-959’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of rabbiteye blueberry plant, herein referred to as ‘T-959’, asherein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-959’ was selected in Griffin, Ga. in2005. The new variety ‘T-959’ ripens around the first week of June insouthern Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘T-959’ are large andhave good flavor. The new variety ‘T-959’ is vigorous with an estimatedchilling requirement of about 500-550 hours at or below approximately 7°C.

Pedigree and history: ‘T-959’ was selected in 2005 in Griffin, Ga.,originating from a cross of ‘T-460’×‘FL 80-11’ made by Dr. Scott NeSmithin 2002. The two parents are non-patented blueberry breeder selectionsthat have not been produced commercially. The selection has been testedin plantings at Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. established in the Fall of2006.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-959’ has been shown to maintain itsdistinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagationsby softwood cuttings in Alapaha and Griffith, Ga. Plants from softwoodcuttings have been directly planted in the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘T-959’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits of the new ‘T-959’ variety have been repeatedlyobserved in Alapaha and Griffin Ga., and have been determined to be theunique combination characteristics of the new rabbiteye blueberry plantvariety ‘T-959’:

-   -   1. Very large berry size;    -   2. Excellent plant vigor;    -   3. Excellent fruit firmness.

The new variety ‘T-959’ can be compared to the rabbiteye blueberryvarieties ‘Alapaha’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,266),‘Vernon’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,291), ‘Premier’, and‘Brightwell’ (both non-patented commercial blueberry varieties).

Comparison: The ‘T-959’ variety has berries that ripen around the timeof the early rabbiteye varieties ‘Alapaha’, ‘Vernon’ and ‘Premier’, butbefore the mid-season variety ‘Brightwell’. ‘T-959’ has very large, firmberries, and the plant has a high degree of plant vigor as compared overa three year time period to the other varieties grown in Griffin andAlapaha, Ga. (Tables 1 and 2). Table 3 depicts berry weight for ‘T-959’and comparison cultivars from both Griffin and Alapaha locations for thefirst 25% of ripe fruit. In each of the sets from the site/years,‘T-959’ has had much greater average berry weight than all of the othercompared cultivars. ‘Alapaha’ was released in 2001, as a new earlyseason variety with consistent cropping, and was followed by ‘Vernon’ in2004 for an early season companion variety with larger berry size tocompete with the much older standard ‘Premier’. ‘T-959’ is superior toeach of these with respect to berry size. ‘T-959’ has much largerberries than the popular early-mid season older variety ‘Brightwell’.While yield data is limited, Table 4 depicts total yield per plant takenfrom three single plant replicates via hand harvesting in selection testplots at Alapaha in 2009 and 2010, and in Griffin in 2010. These datasupport that ‘T-959’ is a high yielding plant, primarily due to thelarge berry size. The total yield of 23.1 lbs per plant for ‘T-959’ fromAlapaha in 2010 is the largest yield that the inventor has ever recordedfor 4 year old plants. In addition to large berry size, ‘T-959’ berriesalso demonstrate excellent firmness (Table 5). ‘Brightwell’ isconsidered the standard for firmness in the industry, which makes ituseful for machine harvesting and long distant shipping. ‘T-959’ hadequal or greater firmness than ‘Brightwell’ (as measured with aspecialized laboratory instrument called a FirmTech 2) in each of 3years in Griffin. The ‘T-959’ variety also had greater firmness than‘Alapaha’, ‘Vernon’, and ‘Premier’.

In comparison to its ‘T-460’ parent, ‘T-959’ has much larger berries(‘T-460’ avg 1.8 to 2.4 g vs 3.0 to 4.0 g for ‘T-959’), ‘T-959’ hasgreater plant vigor, and ‘T-959’ ripens 6 to 9 days earlier than‘T-460’.

In comparison to its ‘FL 80-11’ parent, ‘T-959’ has much larger berries(‘FL-80-11’ avg is 2.0 to 2.5 g vs 3.0 to 4.0 g for ‘T-959’), and‘T-959’ flowers some 5 to 8 days later than ‘FL-80-11’, while ripeningat a similar time.

TABLE 1 Average ratings of some fruit and plant characteristics of‘T-959’ and rabbiteye standard cultivars ‘Alapaha’, ‘Vernon’, ‘Premier’,and ‘Brightwell’ from 2008-2010 in field test plots at Alapaha, GA.Rating scales are based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the leastdesirable and 10 being the most desirable. A value of 6-7 is generallycon- sidered to be the minimum acceptable rating for a commercialcultivar. These plants were established in Fall 2006. Berry and plantCultivar attributes^(Y/) ‘T-959’ ‘Alaphaha’ ‘Vernon’ ‘Premier’‘Brightwell’ Berry size  9.5 ± 0.2 6.9 ± 0.1 7.9 ± 0.2 7.8 ± 0.2 7.0 ±0.1 Berry scar  8.2 ± 0.2 7.6 1 0.1 8.0 ± 0.1 7.7 ± 0.2 7.7 ± 0.2 Berrycolor  7.3 ± 0.1 7.0 ± 0.1 7.2 ± 0.2 7.5 ± 0.3 7.3 ± 0.2 Berry  8.3 ±0.3 7.0 ± 0.2 7.7 ± 0.3 6.9 ± 0.2 7.7 ± 0.2 firmness Berry flavor  7.0 ±0.1 7.8 ± 0.1 7.7 ± 0.2 7.8 ± 0.1 7.0 ± 0.2 Cropping  6.3 ± 0.5 6.2 ±0.2 4.5 ± 1.0 2.5 ± 0.3 7.8 ± 1.0 Plant vigor 10.0 ± 0.1 8.0 ± 0.1 8.8 ±0.1 9.3 ± 0.4 9.2 ± 0.6 Date of 50% March 21 March 22 March 20 March 23March 25 flowering Date of June 1 June 4 June 2 June 6 June 19 50%ripening Fruit  73 ± 3.2 75 ± 2.0 74 ± 4.5 75 ± 3.5 86 ± 4.5 developmentperiod (days) ^(Y/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 3.

TABLE 2 Average ratings of some fruit and plant characteristics of‘T-959’ and rabbiteye standard cultivars ‘Alapaha’, ‘Vernon’, ‘Premier’,and ‘Brightwell’ from 2008-2010 in field test plots at Griffin, GA.Rating scales are based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the leastdesirable and 10 being the most desirable. A value of 6-7 is generallyconsidered to be the minimum acceptable rating for a commercialcultivar. These plants were established in the Fall of 2006. Berry andplant Cultivar attributes^(Y/) ‘T-959’ ‘Alapaha’ ‘Vernon’ ‘Premier’‘Brightwell’ Berry size 9.6 ± 0.2 7.1 ± 0.2 8.0 ± 0.3 7.7 ± 0.2 6.8 ±0.2 Berry scar 8.2 ± 0.2 7.7 ± 0.3 7.8 ± 0.2 7.5 ± 0.3 7.7 ± 0.2 Berrycolor 7.3 ± 0.1 7.0 ± 0.1 7.2 ± 0.2 7.3 ± 0.4 7.4 ± 0.2 Berry 8.3 ± 0.37.2 ± 0.2 7.8 ± 0.2 6.8 ± 0.1 8.1 ± 0.1 firmness Berry flavor 7.2 ± 0.27.9 ± 0.1 8.0 ± 0.1 7.7 1 0.2 7.1 ± 0.2 Cropping 5.5 ± 0.6 5.2 ± 1.3 4.2± 0.9 3.2 ± 0.7 6.0 ± 2.1 Plant vigor 9.8 ± 0.1 8.3 ± 0.2 8.2 ± 0.4 7.8± 0.3 8.3 ± 0.2 Date of 50% April 6 April 3 April 2 April 2 April 5flowering Date of 50% June 20 June 16 June 14 June 16 June 28 ripeningFruit 75 ± 2.0 74 ± 2.5 73 ± 3.5 75 ± 2.0 86 ± 2.3 development period(days) ^(Y/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 3.

TABLE 3 Average berry weight for ‘T-959’ and four standard rabbiteyeblueberry cultivars at Griffin and Alapaha research farm locationsduring 2008 thru 2010. Average berry weights were determined frommultiple berry samples (25 to 50 fruit per sample) taken from the first25% of ripe fruit. 2008 2009 2010 Griffin Alapaha Griffin AlapahaGriffin Alapaha Location Location Location Location Location LocationVariety Average berry wt (g)^(Y/) ‘T-959’ 4.0 ± 0.1 4.4 ± 0.2 4.2 ± 0.13.3 ± 0.1 3.1 ± 0.2 3.2 ± 0.1 ‘Alapaha’ 1.6 ± 0.1 — 1.8 ± 0.1 1.4 ± 0.11.8 ± 0.1 1.4 ± 0.1 ‘Vernon’ 2.0 ± 0.1 — 2.3 ± 0.1 2.1 ± 0.1 2.2 ± 0.12.1 ± 0.1 ‘Premier’ 1.8 ± 0.1 1.6 ± 0.1 2.1 ± 0.1 1.8 ± 0.1 2.0 ± 0.11.7 ± 0.1 ‘Brightwell’ 1.5 ± 0.1 — 1.6 ± 0.1 1.5 ± 0.1 1.2 ± 0.1 1.6 ±0.1 ^(Y/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 3.

TABLE 4 Total yield (lbs/plant) for ‘T-959’ and three standard rabbiteyeblueberry cultivars at Griffin (2010) and Alapaha (2009 and 2010)research farm locations during 2009 and 2010. Total yields were obtainedfrom 3 to 5 hand-harvests at each location from plants established inthe Fall of 2006. Three single plant replicates were harvested for eachvariety at each location. 2009 2010 Griffin Alapaha Griffin AlapahaLocation Location Location Location Variety Total yield per plant(lbs)^(Y/) ‘T-959’ — 12.3 ± 0.4  14.7 ± 2.6 23.1 ± 1.1 ‘Alapaha’ — 7.7 ±1.1 10.8 ± 0.4 17.4 ± 1.2 ‘Vernon’ — 5.3 ± 0.9 10.8 ± 0.9 10.3 ± 0.2‘Brightwell’ — 8.6 ± 1.5  4.2 ± 0.7 15.6 ± 1.5 ^(Y/)Values are means ±the standard error with n = 3.

TABLE 5 Average berry firmness for ‘T-959’ and four standard rabbiteyeblueberry cultivars at the Griffin research farm location during 2008thru 2010. Average berry firmness was determined from multiple 25-berrysamples using a FirmTech 2 firmness device. Fruit samples were takenfrom the first 25% of ripe fruit. 2008 2009 2010 Variety Average berryfirmness (g/mm)^(Y/) ‘T-959’ 237 ± 8.3 213 ± 2.0  260 ± 18.5 ‘Alapaha’221 ± 3.1 194 ± 2.1 210 ± 9.1 ‘Vernon’ 208 ± 4.7 191 ± 1.9  206 ± 15.6‘Premier’ 199 ± 5.9 172 ± 3.5 165 ± 3.8 ‘Brightwell’  211 ± 10.5 216 ±1.0 241 ± 8.9 ^(Y/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘T-959’. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type. The colors of illustrations of this typemay vary with lighting and other conditions. Therefore, colorcharacteristics of this new variety should be determined with referenceto the observations described herein, rather than from theseillustrations alone.

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph of a typical 3-year old plant of the newvariety ‘T-959’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘T-959’ duringripening.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of typical fruit of the new variety ‘T-959’ ascompared to a U.S. quarter coin.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the new variety ‘T-959’. Where dimensions, sizes,colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood thatsuch characteristics are approximations and averages set forth asaccurately as practicable. The descriptions reported herein are largelyfrom specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., withsupplemental irrigation. Plants were about 4 to about 5 years old.

PLANT

-   Size: 1.5 to 1.8 m tall and 1.2 to 1.5 m in diameter in the upper    portion of the plant canopy and 0.3 to 0.4 m diameter at the base or    crown by about 4 years of age.-   Growth habit: Semi-upright to upright with 2 to 4 canes arising from    the crown.-   Growth: Highly vigorous.-   Productivity: High to very high yield, averaging 15 to 23 lbs of    fruit per plant each year for 4 to 5 year old plants grown in soil    amended with pine bark and having supplemental irrigation.-   Hardiness: Similar to the rabbiteye cultivars ‘Alapaha’ and    ‘Vernon’.-   Chilling requirement: 500 to 550 hours of temperatures at or below    about 7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering    during the spring.-   Leafing: Plants readily break numerous leaf buds simultaneously with    anthesis.-   Canes:    -   -   Diameter.—25 to 40 mm in plants that are about 4 years old            and older. 8 to 12 mm in about 2 year old wood. 3 to 5 mm in            current season wood.        -   Color.—Grey RHS 201C in plants that are about 4 years old            and older. Yellow-green RHS 146C in about 2 year old wood.            Yellow-green RHS 145C in current season wood.        -   Texture.—Current season wood: smooth surface 2 year old            wood: smooth transitioning to semi-rough.        -   Internode length.—On current season wood is 20 to 35 mm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf color: Healthy mature leaves.    -   -   Top side.—Green RHS N138B and glaucous.        -   Under side.—Green RHS 148C.-   Leaf arrangement: Alternate, simple.-   Leaf shape: Elliptic.-   Leaf margins: Entire with occasional slight undulations.-   Leaf venation: Reticulate.-   Leaf apices: Broadly acute.-   Leaf bases: Acute.-   Leaf dimensions:    -   -   Length.—65 to 75 mm.        -   Width.—30 to 35 mm.-   Petioles: Small.    -   -   Length.—3.0 to 4.0 mm.        -   Width.—1.8 to 2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green RHS 145B with some reddening (Greyed-red            180C) on many petioles.

FLOWERS

-   Date of 50% anthesis: March 21 (3 year average) in southeast    Georgia; April 6 (3 year average) in middle Georgia.-   Flower shape: Urceolate.-   Flower bud number: High.-   Flowers per cluster: 7 to 10.-   Flower arrangement: individual flowers arranged alternately along    peduncle.-   Flower fragrance: None.-   Corolla    -   -   Color.—White RHS N155C (open flower).        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—7.5 to 8.5 mm.        -   Depth.—About 7.5 to 8.5 mm.        -   Width.—6.0 to 7.0 mm.        -   Aperture width.—2.0 to 3.0 mm.-   Flower peduncle:    -   -   Length.—10 to 12 mm.        -   Color.—Green RHS 139D.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Flower pedicel:    -   -   Length.—4.5 to 5.0 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green RHS 146C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   Diameter.—5.5 to 6.0 mm.        -   Color (sepals).—Upper surface: Green RHS 137B.-   Sepals:    -   -   General.—Most pronounced at flowering time, becomes much            less pronounced at fruit maturity.        -   Number.—Five sepals.        -   Size and shape.—Rounded apex and base; sepal length 1.5 mm            to 2.0 mm; sepal width 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm just after corolla            drop.        -   Sepal margins and surfaces.—Typically smooth.-   Stamen:    -   -   Length.—6.0 to 6.5 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Yellow-green RHS 145D.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—9.5 to 10.5 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green RHS 146C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Length.—11.0 to 13.0 mm.        -   Ovary color (exterior).—Green RHS 138B.-   Anther:    -   -   Length.—3.0 to 3.5 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.-   Pollen:    -   -   Abundance.—Low to medium.        -   Color.—Yellow-orange RHS 18C.-   Self-compatibility: The cultivar has demonstrated a low degree of    self-compatibility.

FRUIT

-   Date of 50% maturity: June 1 (3 year average) in southeast Georgia;    June 20 (3 year average) in middle Georgia. Avg first harvest date    in southeast Georgia is May 25 and middle Georgia is June 12. Avg    last date of harvest in southeast Georgia is June 10 and in middle    Georgia is June 30.-   Fruit development period: 73 to 77 days.-   Berry cluster density: Typical number of berries per cluster:    greatly depends on pollination and fruit set, but can avg 4 to 7    berries per cluster.-   Berry color:    -   -   With wax.—Violet-blue RHS 97B.        -   With wax removed.—Black RHS 203B.-   Berry surface wax abundance: Medium.-   Berry flesh color: White RHS 155C.-   Berry weight:    -   -   First harvest.—3.0 g to 4.0 g.        -   Second harvest.—2.7 g to 3.2 g.-   Berry size:    -   -   Height from calyx to scar.—15.0 to 18.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—17.0 to 23.0 mm.-   Berry shape: Semi-spherical, slightly disk shaped.-   Fruit stem scar: Small to medium, dry, no tearing at harvest.-   Berry firmness: Excellent.-   Berry flavor and texture: Good sweet flavor; firm skin and berry    flesh.-   Storage quality: Excellent.-   Suitability for mechanical harvesting: Likely very suited.-   Uses: Primarily can be used as fresh fruit for shipping, but also    can be used for customer-pick and for processing markets.

SEED

-   Seed abundance in fruit: Medium to high.-   Seed color: Greyed-orange RHS 164A.-   Seed dry weight: 54.8 mg per 100 seeds.-   Seed size: 1.2 to 2.0 mm long for fully developed seeds; diameter:    0.2 to 0.3 mm.

DISEASE/PEST RESISTANCE/SUSCEPTABILITY

-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Similar to rabbiteye varieties    ‘Premier’ and ‘Climax’. No notable resistances or susceptibilities.-   Pest resistance/susceptibility: Gall midge susceptible. Susceptible    to fruit cracking under wet conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rabbiteye blueberryplant named ‘T-959’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.